Following trends in the group health insurance marketplace, these articles focus on three key ways to empower employees to make better decisions: consumer driven health plans, health savings accounts and corporate wellness programs. But do they work? Continue reading →

In early February, the DOH issued a final version of section 2715 of the Public Health Services Act. This section deals with group health plans and the requirements for providers to issue “summary of benefits and coverage (SBC)” before applying restrictions to coverage. Continue reading →

Federal law requires that employers within the same “controlled group” of businesses be treated as a single employer for many employee benefit purposes, including discrimination testing. Many executives—particularly those of small, closely held employers—don’t know their employers are members of a controlled group. A distant holding company, venture capitalist, or group of individuals or trusts might own the employer, leaving the executives wholly unaware about who else nests in the corporate tree. Continue reading →

From Janae Schaeffer of Lockton Companies, great discussion on the viability of health plan co-ops. Health Plan CO-OPs: A New Choice for Consumers, But Will They Be Viable? The Department of Health and Human Services has issued proposed regulations on … Continue reading →